GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 22ND MARCH 2017
WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT
FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
PSALM: Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:17-19
THEME: THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
Laws are important. Lawlessness breeds chaos and any such state of affairs is a sure recipe for disaster. Important though they are, laws are means to an end. When we lose sight of their ultimate goal, laws easily become what the French realist novelist, Honore de Balzac, describes as “spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught.”
In our First Reading, Moses sets before the people of Israel laws which would govern their way of life in the land they would possess. He tells them, “See, just as the LORD my God has charged me, I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!’” (Deut. 4:5-6).
Jesus, in our Gospel text, reaffirmed the Law of Moses but redirects the focus of his audience to the ultimate goal of the Law. He said to his disciples, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished” (Mat 5:17-18). Reading further, Jesus would summarise the foundation and ultimate purpose of the law and prophets as love of God and neighbour (cf. Mt. 22:34-40).
Keeping in view the goal of any law, rule or prescription is vital for a healthy spirituality. During this season of Lent, the Church prescribes for us prayer, fasting and almsgiving to aid us in our spiritual journey. This prescription is meant to help us conquer sin in our lives and deepen our love for God and neighbour. What it means is that if my lenten observance of prayer, fasting and almsgiving is not making me more loving, then sorry, it is an exercise in vain.
PRAYER: Lord God, your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Let love reign in my heart and manifest in my thoughts, words and deeds; for the sake of the name of Christ, I pray. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).